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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

Gary Lineker pokes fun at Matt Hancock as he resigns after Covid breach

Gary Lineker has poked fun at former Health Secretary Matt Hancock after his resignation expressing his surprise that he didn't outlast England at Euro 2020

Hancock has left his post amid huge public pressure after he was caught flouting the lockdown rules he helped put in place.

The MP was seen kissing his colleague, Gina Coladangelo, on 6 May in footage published by The Sun.

Despite the Prime Minister accepting his original apology and considering the matter closed Hancock has since resigned.

The saga occurred in the build up to England's last 16 clash with Germany on Tuesday night at Wembley.

Gareth Southgate's side have been unconvincing thus far despite winning Group D, but now face a genuine test of their credentials.

Lineker was quick to post on Twitter following Hancock's sacking, saying: "Who would have thought it? Matt Hancock is out before England."

The BBC anchor was in the 1990 World Cup team who lost to Germany on penalties.

Since then the Three Lions have lost to their rivals at Euro 96 and the World Cup in 2010.

Southgate though is confident that his England side are growing into this summer's tournament citing their far from ideal preparation that saw them without several players.

He said: “We knew that because of the nature of our preparation, to get 10 of the players so late and not be able to get them into the friendly, and then have Maguire not available, Henderson in the early stages of rehab, Jack having only played the last couple of games of the season and still having to miss training, one or two others with small issues, we have known the team was going to have to evolve.

“There are a lot of players who are lacking a bit of match sharpness and match fitness, and I am not sure there is a way round that. It’s why the squad is going to be so important, because we are going to have to bring fresh legs into the games.

How far will England go at Euro 2020? Have your say below

“We have not been able to put that intensity of performance together, but what we have done well is manage the games, see them out and look really solid. In doing that, we have to find different ways to win.”

England have won two of their three groups games but have managed to score just twice.

Germany meanwhile have endured mixed results, picking up four points. Joachim Low's side put in a scintillating performance to beat Portugal but needed a late goal to draw with Hungary and qualify.

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